Here’s what to do about it.
Has being diagnosed with COVID messed with your relationship with food? You aren’t alone. Many people who have suffered from COVID experience smell and taste changes. Parosmia (a distortion of smell) and anosmia (a diminished sense of smell) can cause previously enjoyable aromas, like a warm cup of coffee or fresh flowers, to become unpleasant, intolerable, and even disappear altogether. We don’t know exactly how many people diagnosed with COVID experience these conditions, however, one recent review found that nearly half of all people with COVID had smell and taste changes.
Our senses are bridges that connect us to the world we live in. We don’t often think about the vital role scent, in particular, has in our lives. Our sense of smell is kind of like a superpower; our noses can give us information about the unseen world around us. And when this power is lost it affects many parts of our lives, our relationships with food included. Many researchers insist that smell makes up 80-90% of food’s flavor. Many sufferers of parosmia and anosmia report previously enjoyed foods becoming unrecognizable or turning into a series of unappealing tastes and textures. Food has been reported to smell like gasoline, cigarettes, or even excrement at times.
A global study confirmed that during the pandemic, many of us ate more mindlessly, moved less, were more anxious, and got less sleep. When we add smell and taste changes to this list, it is easy to understand why so many people are struggling with health and wellbeing. Satisfaction and enjoyment fuel our drive to eat. And without this, food becomes a formality and chewing feels like a chore. Without taste, people may experience poor appetite, may settle for the bare minimum, or may start skipping meals altogether.
The nutritional implications such as weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can be serious. What’s more, the psychological implications can be just as detrimental. Social isolation, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders have all been reported in those with COVID-related smell and taste changes.
So what can you do about it?
Focus on other aspects of food. Things like texture, heat, sounds, and appearance all contribute to the eating experience. Go for things with interesting textures; crispy, smooth, bubbly! We also experience food using sensors like the trigeminal nerve, which detects sensations like the heat of peppers, the coolness of mint, and the astringent pungency of onions. The sound a crunch or snap makes in our mouths, food coloring, and even plating has an impact on how we experience and engage with food. Get creative and focus on what you can still sense, rather than on what you cannot.
Allow yourself to grieve the loss. Acknowledge that you have temporarily lost an important, and possibly never fully appreciated, part of your life. It is normal and okay that you are struggling with this! Let this be another thing that the pandemic has reminded us not to take for granted. Be grateful for surviving a potentially lethal virus, stay hopeful, and trust that you will heal.
Smell training. It’s kind of like physical therapy for your nose. It involves sniffing several potent scents twice a day, sometimes for months, to stimulate and restore the olfactory system. At this time, this is the only proven method for rehabilitating a distorted or decreased sense of smell.
Support yourself. There are many support groups online. Check out https://abscent.org/ for more information. If your weight or nutrition is at risk, seek out dietary counseling to support you. You are not in this alone!